The Phantom of the Opera
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Movie Reviews of The Phantom of the Opera
Movie Review: I don't know what to think!!!
Summary: 4 Stars
I saw this movie before I saw Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom, and grew up with this. That being said, when I saw ALW's Phantom, I didn't know which one was better.
THIS PHANTOM OF THE OPERA:
I thought that it was great and thought that the humor was good and the emotion as well, but it was lacking set value. The sets looked like my old high school's sets when we did productions. Overall, it was ok. I also missed the chandelier crash.
ALW's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA:
This muisical was better in set quality (and the chandelier) and spectacular costumes and wonderful music, but it lacked the quality of humor.
Decide for yourself...David Staller or Gerrard Butler.
Movie Review: An interesting adaptation...
Summary: 4 Stars
I really like this version of Phantom. As an "expert" Phantom Phan, I've seen most of the adaptations, but this one is truly unique!! David Staller is fabulous as the Phantom, and Elizabeth Walsh is a great singer...there are, however, a few script issues I wish they would have fixed (Christine is a bit inconsistent in her behavior), but all-in-all this is an excellent stage version of the show.
*WARNING*
Andrew Lloyd Webber fans will NOT appriceate this! Anyone who enjoys good music, Faust, some comedy, and a well-voiced Phantom will really like this DVD. Buy it!
Movie Review: O_o Ummmm...
Summary: 3 Stars
Well the singing was okay and it was kind of funny,but it didn't make my top ten that's for sure.Movie Review: Craptistic Cheese worth checking out?
Summary: 2 Stars
Especially if you are looking for a reason to forgive the Hollywood version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical for its flaws.
How this video found its way into my library I'll never know. How it got itself recorded for posterity's sakes is the more intriguing question.
Although the ALW version is the most famous version of Phantom, there have also been several other musicals of it made. Maury Yeston (Broadway composer of NINE, GRAND HOTEL, TITANIC) made one (that never made it to Broadway but has been performed regionally and it is on cd), and these local composers also turned out a version. No matter what one thinks of this version, one does have to applaud the composers of this one for deciding to write their own even though they aren't ALW or Yeston.
At any rate, I saw this at my library and decided to get it out. When one has listened to the ALW version for years, it is a struggle to keep an open mind and it took me two days to get through this 90 minute musical. Never did 90 minutes feel so long!
It is just as bad as the other reviewers say it is. It does have one redeeming quality, but that is it. The sets are cheap, the makeup overdone (I cringed everytime, they did close-ups and had to turn away) except on the Phantom where the makeup artists did themselves justice. The songs are forgettable but remind you of Rodgers and Hammerstein but in a bad way.
The acting is also not effective. What should be spooky or haunting comes across as ordinary and, in some cases, comic. The comedy where it is meant to be comedy is appropriate, but only reminds the viewer that this is an inferior version of the Phantom.
Which brings me to its one redeeming quality. Christine as played by Elizabeth Walsh is a spirited, opinionated, and decisive girl. In the ALW version, Christine in the wrong hands can appear very, very spineless and can drive one crazy with her 'save me Raoul' bits. This Christine makes her an equal to the Phantom. The most effective acting comes from Walsh and it is her scene with the Phantom when she is with him in the lair the first time that is the most effective scene in this musical.
So, for that reason, it is worth watching. You'll cringe most of the time or find yourself wondering how much more cheesier or craptistic it can get, and it does get boring to watch, but it does provide a nice example of a Christine with spirit.
However, you should only buy this if you are a Phantom freak.
Movie Review: Pretty Crappy...
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought this DVD in my quest of owning every Phantom of the Opera movie available (which I have now finished). From reading the other reviews I wasn't expecting anything of great quiality, I just wanted to own it. But, as other reviewers have said, it's pretty poor. The sets are cheaply made due to an obviously low budget. The acting aside from the Phantom and Christine was terrible. The guys playing the Persian and Bouquet were some of the worst actors I've ever seen. The costuming for the Phantom and Raoul were probably ripped off of the Andrew Lloyd Webber stage version. And as one other reviewer commented, there really isn't a single memorable song in this thing! Most of them are down right terrible and the orchestra sounded very quiet. I give this 2 stars for the prosthetic for our beloved Phantom which looks really good, surprisingly compared to the rest of the crappy production. And of course as everyone who's seen this knows, the ending is completely unlike the phantom at all. IT'S SO BAD!!!! The production value is next to nothing.
If you're a big Phantom Phan, then go ahead and get the movie, otherwise don't waste your money. It's really not worth it!